The Portland daily press., 1887-07-02
LARGEST VINEYARD ON EARTH.
What Irrigation Has Done on a
Naked PIaIn-A Great Feat OF Agri-
rifffsara
TChico EnterprIse.1 !


There has been great deal written about
Senator Stanford's immense ranch at Vina,
but the only way to get an adequate idea of
it is to pay the place a visit. Stanfords
ranch begins at the Tehama county line, and
the first view one gets of his land is not pre-
possessing. 1t is nothing but barren.
treeless plain, where the bedrock crops out
in spots and everywhere lies but few feet
below the surface. Nothing will grow here
except short, dry weed, but the sheep like
this weed. and the plain is therefore one
vast sheep range, for Senator Stanford
is man of varied resources and man
ages to find use for all the land he owns.
As you approach Vina, the aspect Of the
country suddenly changes, and you jump
from sun-burned plains into the midst of
green alfalfa fields and vineyards The
former are made productive by frequent
flooding from irrigating bitches. The food
ing is good for the soil, but bad for health
and if it makes alfalfa, it also makes malaria.
The water Is brought in bitches from Deer
creek and turned into the fields until it
stands IN a vast lake. AS soon as one crop
of alfalfa is out, another Is raised in this
way, all the year round. 1t is used very ex-
tensiyely for stock, in place Of hay.
But the vineyard is the wonderful feature
OF the Stanford ranch. 1t extends for several
miles up and down on each side Of the road
as you approach Vina, and back from the
road as far as the eye can reach. In some
places the vines are large, in others they
have just been set out, and in the latter case
they are supported by an army of stakes.
This vineyard contains $500 acres, and is
the largest in the world, but still the Senator
is not satisfied, and proposes TO have 5000
acres. More wires are being set out every
year. The pretiiest sight Of all are the old
Greek vines, which form the nucleus Of
are all old and stand fully five feet high.
The trunks are larger than a mans arm. The
branches are trimmed off at the bottom and
allowed to grow out at the top, until the
vineyard looks like an orchard of young
peach trees, and they are all .pruned off so
evenly that they make one level floor Of
green as the eye glances across them.
The vines already in bearing require the
attention OF several hundred men, to take
care Of the grapes they produce; and ii win
take small army Of men to attend the crop
each year when all the vines get to bearing.
The winery already in use on the ranch is
large building, but now Senator Stanford is
having brick structure erected which COW
ers two acres. The walls are already up and
40 pillars are being erected to support the
roof. The building is to hold the Wine watts
and casks and Is a sort Of wine-cellar
above ground. 1t is of mammOuth propOr-
portions. but so is the vineyard and so will
the crop OF grapes be.
One could talk about the vineyard and
winery all day, but there are other things TO
be mentioned. Next 20 his vines, in Senator
Stanford's esteem, come his fine horses OF
these there are large bands to be seen, all
beauties and Of the best blood. The Senator
makes specially of raising fast horses,
NAL Is spirited, beautifully proportioned and
looks sleek and smooth. The two stations
to which he breeds all his mares are Clay
and Whips. The. former the Senator values
horse, kind and gentle in disposition. Whips
is fine large bay, full Of life and beautiful
ly built. In fact, the Senator considers
Whips the ideal Of h0rsetlesh and be-
yond price. The animal was expected to
make very fast time, but was lamed In his
used only for breeding purposes. Several
fine horses have been lamed lately on the
Palo Alto track; which is considered too
hard, and the Senator intends to build a
training track on his vina ranch. Negotia-
tons are now IN progress for the purchase
OF the Copeland estate, which adjoins STAN
ford's on the west, next to the rive-, and
when these negotiations are completed, the
track will probably be built on this land.
Then all of the fine stock win be brought TO
Vina, which will be made headquarters for
the training department.
Other features of this wonderful ranch de-
serve extended mention. The nine large
barns for the horses, which are made as
comfortable as most dwellings; the barns
where the Holstein cows have their quar-
ters, kept as neat as parlor; those fine old
Holstein cattle themselves Of monstrous size
and beautifully marked in black and white
one COW In particular, which is being fat
tened for beef, to weigh $500 pounds, and
which now weighs nearly 1000; Senator
StanfOrd's handsome two-story residence
with its extensive lawns, flower gardens and
statuary-all Of these things attract the at
ger. But then everything about this great
ranch is of interest, and after the visitor
has spent the day in examining the different
features, he still feels how little he has seen.
The ranch is one of the wonders of this
wonderful State